Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-01-21
IPle |! ! RElIGIOa.,, ].
81 nEnrccA HAnpma, DAVIS i. !.

people Of Balls Ferry had been asked
to decide which was the most pious
family in their midst they would unani-
monsly have named the Dernmings.
They had long ago been the nucleus
about which the Presbyterian church
gathered. Now Squire Den1ming's pew
faced that 81 the pastor, and no matter
how stormy the weather there was his
venerable white head in its place and
Mother Demming's placid old face be-
side it. Grace and Isabella, the un-
married sisters, and Joe, filled tho pew.
Young Mr.. Floyd (who was radical in
his views), or any visiting clergyman
might preach what they chose, the
Demmings listened with the same
calm, devout pleasure. 1t never occur
red to them to dispute any opinion
promulgated by a minister of their
church. It was "all good" like the BIZ
BILE. There was no room for choice in
either. The squire would be just as
likely to read chapter in Numbers to
a penltent sinner us one in St. John.
The effect on his mind was very much
the same. Both had the soothing ef-
feet of repeated charm which set him
safely apart from other mon.
You would always find on the Dem.
ming'!s centre table all the papers and
magazines published by the denomina>
tion. Their house was the headquar-
ters for clergymen and colporteurs.
The girls could tell you at moments
notice where such and such q minister
was now, how long DR.. D. Of St. Louis
had stayed in Europe, and how much
money had been given to dear MIR. J.
by his flock in Chicago to visit the Holy
Land. They were exceedingly fond,
too, of religious poems, and could re-
peat whole pages OF Henry Kinks
White and Miss Havergal. They took
an eager interest in all foreign mission
airy work; the story of these heroic men
in African jungles or Indian bunga-
lows had all the dramatic power of a
novel for them. Grace declared she
had a positive affection for that lovely
Miss W., who was at work in Ceylon,
and considered Mrs. S. who was in
Hong Kong, one of the apostolic type
of Christians, although she had never
seen either of them. Isabella took
more interest in the ascetic doctrines
coming into notice. She protested q
delight in symbolism, flied her room
with religious emblems and pictures
wore black on Good Friday and lilies
on Easter, and tasted as reGgiously al
any Episcopaian. Every week she
noted down in her diary the change in
her spiritual condition. The whole
family we're fluent in the use of theo-
logical terms, and talked garrulously
of the doctrines of their denomination =;
indeed, works of controversy on this
subject filled their book shelves.
This familiarity with the outer gar
ments of religion made them appear de-
vout in the eyes of others, and in their
own. They were well-to-do family,
and hence felt none Of the temptations
of poverty. They were naturally gen.
tie, unpretending, amiable folks, and
hence were not likely to yield to the
temptations Of wealth. Their pleasant,
mild harmlessness, which was in fact
due to temperament, was set down by
their friends as the effect Of piety.
Life to the Demmings was like long
summer day until Joe brought his vito
home. None of the family had ever
seen her. They knew she was one OF
the Anstruthers of Kentucky.
'There are Anstruthers in the United
Presbyterian Church." said Grace. Il
hope Mary belongs to our membership"
;"Oh, yes, certainly" said Joe eager
~. He was just starting to be married
and he was very anxious that they
should all love Polly in advance.
"Does she sing in the choir?" asked
Isabel.
II think not. But she has one of the
sweeteet voices-a low contralto.$ And
you ought to hear her laugh, Belle! The
merriest ring--oh, she'll bring new life
into this house"
The girls smiled. They were fond Of
Joe, and ready to welcome his wife
"But hope she is ready to take a
leading placei in the church, ~ said Grace,
after he had gone. ''Joe will some day
fill fathers place, and his description of
her does not give me the idea Of an ener-
getically religious woman"
We'll hope for the best, !" said Isa-
bella. She was very busy making an
imitation stained glass window for the
Sunday school room, and was anxious
to finish it before. Mary arrived.
"Uncle Ben must be kept in his own
room when she comes, AMI Tem can be
sent to the country for d months visit, u
Grace said, her delicate cheek flushing
painfully @ &. /.
For, there were two skeletons in the
Demning household Tho squire'a
brother Ben, who was . paralytic old
soldier and . most cross7grained, pro-
fame old fellow, occupied one wing zoi
the mansion. He had aeman to nurse
and road to him, for his oaths were in.
tolerable to his nieces. Tom was their
brother, younger than joe Tom Dem
ming had disappeared for three years
after hasleft collegs, and came back a
haggard, dissipated losfer. Nobody in
Ball Ferry knew what he had done in
that gap Of time, but was certain chat
he was under the Dan-r.a. marked man.